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Trip from Castle Rock, CO to Eaton, CO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
98.9 mi
159 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Castle Rock, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Eaton, CO
Mauricio Ortiz
Trip Overview
The drive from Castle Rock, CO to Eaton, CO covers 98.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on E-470, County Road 49, Heartland Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.4 miles on E-470. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.5 miles from Castle Rock, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| E-470 | 34.4 mi | 34m |
| County Road 49 | 22 mi | 25m |
| Heartland Expressway | 15.4 mi | 15m |
| I 25 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| County Road 47 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Highway 392 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Highway 85 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Oak Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
E-470
— 34.4 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,703 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~242 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Rock, CO and Eaton, CO.
1
Start on North Cantril Street
90 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Cantril Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Continue on 3rd Street
442 ft
·
17 sec
·
3rd Street
4
Turn right onto North Wilcox Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wilcox Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 25 North
6
Merge onto I 25
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 25
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto E470
34 mi
·
34 min
·
E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 76
15 mi
·
15 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 49
22 mi
·
25 min
·
County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CR 47
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 47
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto CO 392
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 392
16
Continue on CO 392
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
17
Turn right onto US 85
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 85
18
Continue on US 85
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oak Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
US 85
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.5 miles from Castle Rock, CO, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.5 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eaton, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castle Rock, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Castle Rock, CO
This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Castle Rock, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on E-470 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.5 miles from Castle Rock, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Street
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward CO 470 West, E 470 North Toll: Grand Jun...
8
12.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E-470 North: Limon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 194
Toward E-470 North: Limon
7
47.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
7
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward Kersey Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34
Toward Kersey Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.69 one way
$33.38 round trip
$4.29/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.03 | $38.06 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.80 | $43.60 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.13
E-470
(34.4 mi)
$4.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.38 | $4.75 |
| Efficient EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.85 | $6.33 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Castle Rock, CO
Night in Castle Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eaton, CO
Night in Eaton on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
98.9 mi in 1h 53m — 34% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: E-470.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on E-470.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,396 ft
4,631 ft
Total Climb
547 ft
Total Descent
1,926 ft
Highest Point
6,396 ft
~7.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,765 ft
Notable High Points
6,396 ft at ~7.1 miles
+181 ft prominence
6,016 ft at ~21.2 miles
+115 ft prominence
4,851 ft at ~77.7 miles
+46 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Castle Rock, CO and Eaton, CO, road signs point toward E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction, Limon and E-470 North: Limon.
E 470 North Toll: Grand Junction
12.8 mi in
|
~15m
Limon
12.8 mi in
|
~15m
E-470 North: Limon
12.9 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
Starting in Castle Rock, CO
Full guide →Founded 1874
Castle Rock is a town of about 81,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of Douglas County, the town lies 26 miles (42 km) south-southeast of Denver.
Top landmarks
- • Castle Rock Depot — railway station in Castle Rock, Colorado
Arriving in Eaton, CO
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 98.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on E-470. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.13 in tolls one way, starting with E-470. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Eaton, CO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eaton, CO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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